RME ADI-2/4 Pro Special Edition

RME ADI-2/4 Pro Special Edition

Based on many years of continuous feature development of the ADI-2 Pro, RME unveils the next addition to the countless award-winning ADI-2 series. The latest masterpiece comes with a newly developed circuit board, improved specifications and faster DSP for an excellent transparent sound signature, extremely powerful headphone amplifiers including IEM power adjustment, super noise-free 4.4 mm Pentaconn balanced connection, trigger out function for switching external devices on and off and finally a RIAA mode for direct digitization of vinyl discs in the highest quality.

A multitude of devices

The ADI-2/4 Pro SE is a 2-channel analog input to digital and 4-channel digital to analog output converter in a 1U half-rack (9.5") housing. The latest 32-bit / 768 kHz converters offer a signal-to-noise ratio of up to 123 dBA. Reference-class technical specifications are combined with an unprecedented feature set. A powerful DSP adds all kinds of useful audio processing, including 5-band parametric EQ, quick Bass/Treble adjustment, Crossfeed and a new concept in Loudness sound control.

The ADI-2/4 Pro features two servo-balanced analog inputs on combo XLR/TRS connectors, two separate balanced and unbalanced outputs on XLR and TRS, two stereo Extreme Power headphone outputs on the front panel for easy balanced operation of all headphones, including IEMs via the Pentaconn connector.

Also available are optical SPDIF I/O, which also understands ADAT, as well as coaxial SPDIF (RCA) and AES I/O (XLR) via an included breakout cable. This universal set of I/O options offers superior quality and flexible connectivity for anyone who demands uncompromised audio.

With independent balanced outputs for Line and Phones, the rear outputs are no longer muffled by balanced phones. Balanced Line and balanced Phones outputs can be used simultaneously, even with different sources/signals. The balanced rear TRS can be fed from either the Line 1/2 or Phones 3/4 signal path, perfect for processing insert effects during the mastering process.

A high-resolution IPS panel for the graphical control surface further facilitates operation and displays even more functions offered by the DSP, namely Peak Level Meters, a 30-band analyzer in DIGICheck biquad filter technology and a State Overview screen showing the current states of SPDIF, AES, USB and Clock.

The USB 2.0 port is fully Class Compliant (UAC 2.0), a standard supported natively by operating systems such as iOS, macOS, Linux and Windows 10 (since 1709), and is also used for firmware updates. Thanks to the external switching power supply with locking connector, the ADI-2/4 Pro can easily be powered from the battery, enabling mobile applications and galvanically isolated usage situations.

As a computer interface, the ADI-2/4 Pro offers a stereo mode (2 in / 2 out) and a multichannel mode (6 in / 8 out). Compatibility with macOS comes out of the box. Under Windows, the ADI-2/4 Pro uses RME's MADIface series driver, for full WDM and ASIO compatibility and highest performance.

Extreme Power Headphones

RME’s proprietary Extreme Power headphone stage has now been further improved, delivering incredibly powerful headphone outputs (2.1 Watts unbalanced, 3.4 Watts balanced at 32 Ohms, per channel). With a dedicated IEM mode, the Extreme Power design adds additional IEM power states (High Power, Low Power, IEM) for full IEM compatibility with reduced noise.

All three phone outputs are equipped with mute relay, overcurrent detection, DC protection, plug detection and DSP control, such as automatic volume allocation, volume ramp up, automatic balanced mode, dual phone mode, user interaction on overload detection and automatic scaling of the low impedance level meter.

RME's latest True Balanced mode realizes balanced phone operation independently of the XLR outputs. The unit now has 2 balanced input channels and 4 balanced output channels. Balanced headphones only use DAC channels 3/4 and the rear outputs can still output an independent signal via DAC 1/2. In True Balanced mode, the maximum output level of the ADI-2/4 Pro SE increases to +7 dBu for IEM, +13 dBu for Low Power and +25 dBu for High Power. The signal-to-noise ratio remains unchanged.

Flexible and powerful

The new Trigger Out connection provides a 12 V switching signal via a 3.5 mm mono jack plug, which can be used, for example, to switch power amplifiers with Trigger In on and off together with the ADI-2/4 Pro.

To make the use of the ADI-2/4 Pro SE as flexible as possible, it has a universal DC input that accepts voltages from 9.5 volts to 15 volts. An internal switching regulator of the latest technology with high efficiency (> 90%) prevents internal hum by operating above audible frequencies. Internally, the switching regulator is followed by standard linear regulators, followed by super low noise linear regulators. Therefore, the ADI-2/4 Pro SE achieves its technical specifications even with less than optimal power supplies. In other words, the choice of the power supply is not critical.

Shortly after the release of the original ADI-2 Pro, we received many requests for digitizing vinyl records. Thanks to its MM (Moving Magnet) compatibility, the ADI-2/4 Pro SE does not require an external preamplifier and can be connected directly to turntables. It has a suitable input impedance, RIAA equalization and the necessary preamplification.

Support for multiple remote controls

The ADI-2/4 Pro remote control has buttons for standby on/off, volume, balance, bass and treble, input selection (optical, coaxial, USB), mute, loudness on/off, bass/treble and EQ. In addition, there are four programmable buttons that give access to 52 different functions and commands for maximum flexibility. No other converter or similar device has such an advanced, user-friendly and at the same time versatile remote control. To operate the ADI-2/4 Pro SE, code table 3 must be activated so that the SEL LED lights up red.